2 Chronicles 16:5
When Baasha learned of this, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned his work.
When Baasha heard this
The phrase begins with "When Baasha heard this," indicating a pivotal moment of realization or reaction. Baasha was the king of Israel, and his actions were often in opposition to the kingdom of Judah. The Hebrew root for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and responding. In the biblical context, hearing often leads to a change in action or repentance. Baasha's hearing signifies a moment of confrontation with the reality of his situation, which is a common theme in the Bible where God uses circumstances to speak to leaders and nations.

he stopped building Ramah
The phrase "he stopped building Ramah" indicates a cessation of a strategic military and political endeavor. Ramah was a city located near the border of Israel and Judah, and its fortification by Baasha was a direct threat to Judah. The Hebrew word for "stopped" is "חָדַל" (chadal), which means to cease or desist. This cessation can be seen as a divine intervention, as God often disrupts the plans of those who oppose His will. The act of stopping the building project signifies a thwarting of Baasha's plans, reflecting the biblical theme that human plans are subject to God's sovereign will.

and abandoned his work
The phrase "and abandoned his work" further emphasizes the complete relinquishment of Baasha's efforts. The Hebrew root for "abandoned" is "עָזַב" (azab), which means to leave, forsake, or let go. This abandonment is not just a physical act but also a symbolic one, representing the futility of opposing God's chosen people and His divine plan. In the broader scriptural context, abandonment often signifies a turning point where God redirects the course of history according to His purposes. Baasha's abandonment of his work at Ramah serves as a reminder of the ultimate authority of God over the affairs of nations and leaders.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Baasha
King of Israel who was in conflict with Asa, the king of Judah. He was fortifying Ramah to control access to Judah.

2. Ramah
A strategic town located in the territory of Benjamin, near the border between Israel and Judah. It was significant for controlling trade and military movements.

3. Asa
King of Judah who sought to counter Baasha's aggression by forming an alliance with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram.

4. Ben-Hadad
King of Aram (Syria) who was persuaded by Asa to break his treaty with Baasha and attack Israelite cities.

5. Event
The cessation of Baasha's fortification of Ramah due to Asa's strategic alliance with Ben-Hadad, which diverted Baasha's attention.
Teaching Points
Reliance on God vs. Human Alliances
Asa's decision to rely on a foreign king rather than God serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting in human strength over divine guidance.

The Consequences of Fear and Insecurity
Baasha's abandonment of Ramah illustrates how fear and insecurity can lead to the failure of plans. Trust in God provides stability and assurance.

Strategic Wisdom and Its Limits
While Asa's strategy was effective in the short term, it highlights the limitations of human wisdom without God's blessing.

The Importance of Faithfulness
Asa's earlier faithfulness brought peace and prosperity, reminding us of the blessings that come from steadfast devotion to God.

God's Sovereignty in Human Affairs
The unfolding events demonstrate God's control over nations and leaders, encouraging believers to trust in His ultimate plan.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Asa's alliance with Ben-Hadad reflect a shift in his reliance on God, and what can we learn from this about our own decision-making processes?

2. In what ways does the account of Baasha and Asa illustrate the consequences of fear-driven actions, and how can we apply this understanding to our personal lives?

3. How does the account of Asa's actions in 2 Chronicles 16:5 connect with the broader biblical theme of trusting in God rather than human strength?

4. Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult decision. How can the lessons from Asa's account guide you in seeking God's wisdom and guidance?

5. Considering the events in 2 Chronicles 16:5, how can we better recognize and respond to God's sovereignty in our daily lives and the world around us?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Kings 15:16-22
Provides a parallel account of the conflict between Asa and Baasha, offering additional context to the events in 2 Chronicles 16.

2 Chronicles 14-15
Describes Asa's earlier reliance on God, contrasting with his later reliance on human alliances.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Encourages trust in the Lord rather than human understanding, relevant to Asa's decision-making process.

Isaiah 31:1
Warns against relying on human alliances instead of seeking God's help, applicable to Asa's actions.
A King's (Asa's) MistakeT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 16:1-6
Preferable ThingsW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 16:1-6
The Folly of BriberyJ. Wolfendale.2 Chronicles 16:1-10
People
Abel, Aram, Asa, Baasha, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Cushites, Dan, David, Ethiopians, Hadad, Hanani, Naphtali
Places
Abel-maim, Damascus, Dan, Geba, Ijon, Judah, Mizpah, Ramah, Syria
Topics
Abandoned, Baasa, Baasha, Ba'asha, Baasha's, Building, Cease, Ceased, Ceaseth, Fortifying, Hearing, Letteth, Pass, Ramah, Rest, Stop, Stopped, Thereof
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 16:4

     5558   storing

2 Chronicles 16:1-4

     5214   attack

2 Chronicles 16:3-4

     5783   agreement

Library
The Perfect Heart.
For the eyes of the Lord ran to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him--2 CHRON. xvi. 9. This passage occurs in the history of Asa, one of the most godly and devoted kings that ever sat upon the throne of Judah. We are told in the fourteenth chapter that he commenced his reign by setting himself to destroy the idolatry into which the whole nation had been betrayed by its former ruler, and to restore the worship and service
Catherine Booth—Godliness

Asa's Reformation, and Consequent Peace and victory
'And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God; 3. For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: 4. And commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. 5. Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. 6. And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

In Death and after Death
A sadder picture could scarcely be drawn than that of the dying Rabbi Jochanan ben Saccai, that "light of Israel" immediately before and after the destruction of the Temple, and for two years the president of the Sanhedrim. We read in the Talmud (Ber. 28 b) that, when his disciples came to see him on his death-bed, he burst into tears. To their astonished inquiry why he, "the light of Israel, the right pillar of the Temple, and its mighty hammer," betrayed such signs of fear, he replied: "If I were
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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